Kate walkee



(No Modl.)

K. WALKER. DRESS CUTTING AND FITTING MOLD.

Patented. Feb. 21,1882.

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UNITED STATES I PATENT OF ICE;

KATE WALKER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

DRESS CUTTING AND FITTING MOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 254,074, dated February 21, 1882.

' Application filed November 14, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, KATE WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indiana-polis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molds for Gnttin g and Fitting Dresses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, and to the letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to-a mode of cutting out dresses for ladies from a mold so constructed that it can be made to fit upon and conform to the shape or form of the person being fitted; and it consists in the formation or construction of such mold and means of fitting it to the form of the person, as will be fully hereinafter described.

It has been customary heretofore to fit dresses to ladies by the use of a mold applied to the person and afterward removed to serve as a guide for forming the dress, such a device being shown in a patent, No. 56,892, to 8. 0. Brigham, of August 7, 1866, and in one, numbered 207,880, to H. Lingen, of September 10, 1878, and also in N 0. 109,076, to G.]?. Sweezy, of November 8, 1870; but mine differs essentially from these in that it isv capable of being made to more perfectly fit the person.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of the mold, and Fig. 2 a back view of the same. p

Arepresents the cloth or foundation of which the mold is formed.

A represents the front lap-seam where the edges of the foundation overlap, so that the same mold may be used and adjusted upon persons having different forms and sizes of busts.

,a a a a are slits cut into the front of the foundation A, from thebottom of the mold upward, not in straight or parallel lines, but in such direction on curved lines as will give the form upon which the mold is applied. These slits are called darts, and their edges are bound or hemmed at a, and beyond such binding or hems, on both sides of the slits, are a series of lacing-eyelets, a, in which are placed lacingcords a, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

b b b are a series of slits severing the foundation-cloth in curved lines from the arm-holes 'B to the bottom of the mold, their edges or margins being bound or hemmed, as at b, and outside of the binding or hems are a series of lacing-eyelets, b, with the lacing-cords b, the same as described for the slits a.

O is a straight slit on the back of the mold, and extends from the neck to the bottom thereof, bound or hemmed on its edges, as at c, and having the lacing-eyelets e and lacing-cords c", the same as slits a and b.

D D are the shoulder-slits, one over each shoulder, and extend from the neck-opening B to the arm-holes B. hemmed, and on each side have the lacing-eyelets d and the lacing-cords d", the same as the other slits described.

The mold is furnished with the lacing-cords in. position in the eyelets and placed upon the person to be fitted. The cords are then drawn alike taut in opposite slits until the mold is made to tightly fit the person over the worn dress, when they are secured at the bottom of the slits, and the front partof the mold brought to a proper size to fit the bust easily, and secured so that. the size and form are known. The lacings on the shoulders also draw the mold at the shoulders until a perfect fit is had. When this is all accomplished, so as to know exactly where the size and form of the person leave the edges of the slits apart, and so that the exact position can be had when the mold is off the person, it is removed by unlacing the shoul- These slits are bound or v der-slit on left side of mold D and one of the dart-slits a. After the mold has been removed, as above described, it is to be spread upon the material or cloth to be cut, and the spaces between the darts of the molds are to be marked or traced-the unlaced spaces to have margins for the seams aboutequal to the other spacesafter which the mold is removed and the material or cloth cut to the form indicated. The spaces must be of sufficient width to allow the required seams to be made in uniting the parts of the cloth. The arm and neck holes are to be marked or traced in the same manner as the other parts. In this manner a perfectly-fitting dress-waist can be out without taking measures of the person other than that indicated by the mold and without trying on the dress after the partshave been united by basting or otherwise.

Having thus described my invention, what I mold, furnished with lacing-eyelets and lacingolaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, cords, and shoulder-slits D D, also provided iswith eyelets and lacing-cords, all substantially Amoldforfittingdresses,consistingofafounas and for the purposes specified. 15

5 dation, A,having" a front overlapping seam, A, In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in front slits, a a a a, in the bottom part of the presence of two witnesses. mold their edges being provided with lacingeyelets a", in which are placed lacing-cords a, KATE WALKER" curved slits b b I), also furnished with laeing- Witnesses: 1o eyelets b and laoinmcords b, a rear slit, 0, ISAAC L. BLOOMER, extending from the bottom to the top of the JOHN V. MARTIN. 

